Rotary wheel ditch finishing machine



July 15, 1969 R. c. ANDREW ROTARY WHEEL DITCH FINISHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 11, 1967 July 15, 1969 c. ANDREW 3,455,039

ROTARY WHEEL DITCH FINISHING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 15, 1969 c D W 3,455,039

ROTARY WHEEL DITCH FINISHING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1967 a Sheets-Sheet 5 Ava 5mm? PAL/w a fl/v pav 5 24 5% W4 M flrrom/zvs United States Patent 3,455,039 ROTARY WHEEL DITCH FINISHING MACHINE Ralph C. Andrew, 701 N. Park St., Osceola, Iowa 50213 Filed May 11, 1967, Ser. No. 637,656 Int. Cl. E02f 3/24, /08; E21c 1/00 U.S. Cl. 37-93 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A ditch finishing device including an elongated first frame means adapted to be positioned within a ditch at a predetermined grade, a second frame means longitudinally movable on the first frame means and having'a rotary cutting means mounted thereon adapted to cut an arcuate trench in the ditch, the arcuate trench being adapted to receive a plurality of pipe members or the like after the first frame means has been moved to its next position.

Culverts and the like must obviously be positioned at a particular grade in the ground. The culverts have previously been layed by first excavating a rough ditch by means of a bulldozer or drag line and then manually digging or filling the rough ditch to the proper grade. The culverts invariably settle when placed on fill and this setting obviously detracts from their efficiency and durability. The time consuming and tedious task of manual digging to lower the rough ditch to grade is obviously undesirable.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a ditch finishing device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ditch finishing device which cuts an arcuate trench at a predetermined grade within a rough ditch.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ditch finishing device which insures that the pipe members will not be placed on fill dirt.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ditch finuishing device which is adapted to be moved successively along a rough ditch which has been previously dug and to cut an arcuate trench therein at the proper grade.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ditch finishing means including a first frame means having a rotary cutting means movably mounted thereon.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ditch finishing device having a conveyor means thereon adapted to move the excavated dirt laterally of the rotary cutting means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ditch finishing device having a hydraulic means provided thereon for levelling and aligning the device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ditch finishing device which is transportable.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ditch finishing device which is economcal of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the device positioned within a rough ditch;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view as would be seen on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view as would be seen on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

3,455,039 Patented July 15, 1969 'ice FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view as would be seen on line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view as would be seen on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view as would be seen on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the hydraulic circuitry of the device; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the means for operating the conveyor on the device.

The ditch finishing device of this invention is designated in the drawings by the reference numeral 10 and generally includes a first frame means 12 and a second frame means 14 longitudinally movable thereon. Frame means 12 is comprised of spaced apart frame members 16 and 18 having frame members 20 and 22 extending between their opposite ends. Frame means 12 also includes an upstanding frame portion 24 at its rearward end and an upstanding frame portion 26 at its forward end as illustrated in the drawings. A beam 28 is secured to and extends between the upper end of frame portions 24 and 26 as best illustrated in FIG. 1. As seen in FIG. 3, frame portion 26 is provided with a pair of braces 30 and 32 extending therebetween. Frame portion 24 likewise is provided with braces corresponding to braces 30' and 32. As seen in FIG. 3, a trolley support 34 is secured to beam 28 and brace 30 and is adapted to support a pair of trolleys 36 and 38 thereon for longitudinal movement therealong. Frame means 12 is also provided with an intermediate upright frame portion 40 similar to frame portions 24 and 26 and trolley support 34 is secured thereto in the same manner as it is secured to frame portion 26. As seen in FIG. 4, trolleys 36 and 38 are adapted to support hydraulic lines 42 and 44.

Frame member 22 is hollow and has a support 46 slidably extending therethrough. A hydraulic cylinder 48 is secured adjacent its lower end to one end of support 46 and a hydraulic cylinder 50 is secured adjacent its lower end to the other end of support 46 in a manner best illustrated in FIG. 3. A bracket '52 is secured to support 46 and extends upwardly through a slot formed in the upper surface of frame member 22 and has a pair of braces 54 and 56 secured thereto which extend therefrom and which are secured to the upper ends of hydraulic cylinders 48 and 50 respectively. The numeral 58 designates a bracket which is secured to the upper surface of frame member 22 which has a hydraulic cylinder 60 pivotally secured thereto as seen in FIG. 3. The rod end of cylinder 60 is pivotally secured to a bracket 62 which extends downwardly through the upper surface of frame member 22. The lower end of bracket 62 is secured to support 46 by any convenient means. The upper surface of frame member 22 is provided with a slot formed therein to permit the lateral movement of bracket 62 and bracket 52 upon the extension or retraction of the rod of cylinder 62 as illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 3.

Frame member 20 at the rearward end of frame means 12 is also hollow and has a support 64 slidably extending therethrough which is identical to support 46. A pair of hydraulic cylinders 66 and 68 are operatively secured to the opposite ends of support 64 in a manner identical to the attachment of cylinders 48 and 50 to support 46. A hydraulic cylinder 70 is secured to frame member 20 and support 64 in a manner identical to the attachment of hydraulic cylinder 60 to frame member 22 and support 46 and operates in identical fashion thereto. Hydraulic cylinders 48, 50, 66 and 68 are provided with plates 72, 74, 76 and 78 pivotally secured to the lower end of the piston rods thereof respectively and are adapted to engage the-bottom surface 80 of a rough ditch 82 at times. As seen in FIG. 3, plate 72 is provided with a downwardly extending finger 84 which is adapted to penetrate the 3 ground to prevent lateral movement of plate 72 with respect to the ditch. Each of the other plates 74, 76 and 78 are also provided with a similar downwardly extending finger. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2,- a pair of wheel assemblies 86 and 88 are vertically movably secured to frame means 12 and are raised and lowered with respect thereto by means of hydraulic cylinders 90 and 92 respectively. Wheel assemblies 86 and 88 are provided to permit the device to be readily transported upon a lowering of the wheel assemblies into a ground engaging position. As seen in FIG. 1, a hitch assembly 94 is secured to frame means 12 and extends forwardly therefrom and is provided to permit the device to be towed behind a prime mover. As best seen in FIG. 3, frame members 16 and 18 have an inverted angle member 96 and 98 secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom along the length thereof respectively.

Frame means 14 includes front and rear frame members 100 and 102 and side frame members 104 and 106 secured at the opposite ends thereof and extending therebetween as best seen in FIG. 1. Side frame member 106 has a pair of roller elements 108 and 110 rotatably secured thereto which are adapted to roll upon angle 98 a best illustrated in FIG. 3. A pair of roller elements 112 and 114 (not shown) are rotatably secured to side frame member 104 and are adapted to roll upon angle 96 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

A power means 116 is mounted on frame means 14 and is operatively connected to a hydraulic pump 118 as seen in FIG. 4. Power means 116 is provided with a gear box 120 having a power shaft 122 rotatably extending outwardly therefrom as seen in FIG. 4. Power shaft 122 has a pulley means 124 secured thereto which is connected by a belt means to a pulley means 126 mounted on shaft 128. Shaft 128 extends rearwardly from pulley means 126 and has its rearward end rotatably mounted in a bearing means 130 which is secured to frame member 102. A sprocket 132 is mounted on shaft 128 forwardly of bearing means 130 and is adapted to drive shaft 134 by means of a chain extending therearound and around a sprocket (not shown) on shaft 134. Shaft 134 is operatively connected to a gear box 136 having a power shaft 138 rotatably extending outwardly therefrom. A hollow shaft 140 is connected to shaft 138 by a universal joint 142 and extends forwardly therefrom. A shaft 144 is slidably mounted in the forward end of shaft 140 and has a universal joint 146 secured to the forward end thereof. A shaft 148 extends forwardly from universal joint 146 through plates 150 and 152 and has a circular cutting means 154 secured to its forward end. As seen in FIGS. and 6, shaft 148 extends through a shield 156 which is positioned rearwardly of cutting means 154. The numeral 158 designates a U-shaped backing plate which is detachably secured to shield 156 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5 and is designed to be positioned rearwardly of the cutting means 154 to prevent loose dirt from falling into the trench being dug. FIG. 5 illustrates a backing plate designated by the reference numeral 160' which would be secured to shield 156 when a larger cutting means is utilized. A separate backing plate would be utilized for each size cutting means. As seen in FIG. 5, shield 156 is provided with a downwardly extending stop means 162 which is adapted to prevent movement of the lower end of backing plate 158 with respect to shield 156. A hub means 164 extends between plates 150 and 152 and encloses shaft 148. A pair of bearings 166 and 168 are mounted within hub 164 and rotatably embraces shaft 148. A pair of spaced apart guides 170 and 172 are secured to the opposite sides of plate 150 and extend vertically upwardly and downwardly therefrom. A pair of guides 174 and 176 are secured to the opposite sides of plate 152 and extend vertically upwardly and downwardly therefrom. Guides 170, 172, 174 and 176 are slidably mounted in tracks 178, 180, 182 and 184 respectively to permit the vertical movement of cutting means 154' at imes. A hydr ulic cylinder 1 6 is operatively connected at its upper end to a support means 188 and has its rod end secured to arm member 190 which is operatively secured to plates 150 and 152. The operation of hydraulic cylinder 186 causes the guides to be moved within their respective tracks thereby causing shaft 148, hub means 164, shield 156, and cutting means 154 to be vertically moved.

Cutting means 154 is comprised of a circular plate 192 having a plurality of arcuate cutting blades 194 secured thereto adjacent the periphery thereof and extending therefrom as best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. An auger means 196 is rotatably mounted in a transverse frame means 198 which is secured to frame means 14 and extends laterally from adjacent the periphery of cutting means 154 to a point outwardly of frame means 12 as best seen in FIG. 3. Auger means 196 is powered by a hydraulic motor 200 and as seen in FIG. 4, a chain 202 operatively extends from hydraulic motor 200 to auger means 196. Hydraulic motor 200 is connected to a pump 204 by a conduit 206 and is connected to a reservoir 208 by a conduit 210. Pump 204 is powered by shaft 128 as seen in FIG. 4.

A winch means 212 is rotatably mounted on support means 188 and is powered by a hydraulic motor 214. Winch means 212 has a cable 216 wrapped therearound as seen in FIG. 3, the opposite ends of which are secured to frame members 24 and 26 respectively.

As seen in FIG. 7, hydraulic cylinder 48 is connected to a valve 218 by conduits 220 and 222. Hydraulic cylinder 60 is connected to valve 224 by conduits 226 and 228. Hydraulic cylinder 50 is connected to a valve 230 by conduits 232 and 234. As seen in FIG. 7, valves 230 and 224 are connected by a conduit 236 while valves 224 and 218 are connected by a conduit 238. Hydraulic cylinder 68 is connected to a valve 240 by conduits 242 and 244 while hydraulic cylinder 70 is connected to a valve 246 by conduits 248 and 250. Hydraulic cylinder 66 is connected to a valve 252 by conduits 254 and 256 and valves 240 and 246 are connected by a conduit 258- Valves 246 and 252 are connected by a conduit 260. Hydraulic cylinder 92 is connected to a valve 262 by conduits 264 and 266 and valve 262 is connected to valve 240 by a conduit 268. Cylinder is connected to a valve 270 by conduits 272 and 274 and a conduit 276 connects valve 270 with a pressure gauge 278 and filter 280. A reservoir 282 is connected to filter 280 by conduit 284 and a conduit 286 connects reservoir 282 with a pump 28 8. Pump 288 is connected to a valve 290 by a conduit 292 and valve 290 is connected to a valve 294 by a conduit 296. Valve 252 is connected to valve 294 by a conduit 298. Valve 294 is connected to motor 214 by conduits 300 and 302 and hydraulic cylinder 186 is connected to valve 290 by conduits 304 and 306. Valve 262 is connected to valve 230 by a conduit 308 and valve 218 is connected to valve 270 by a conduit 310.

I claim:

1. In a ditch finishing device:

an elongated first frame means having opposite ends and sides and adapted to be positioned within a ditch at a predetermined grade,

a second frame means longitudinally movable on said first frame means,

a cutting means mounted on said second frame means adapted to cut an arcuate trench along and in said ditch, said trench being adapted to receive a plurality of pipe members after said first frame means has been moved to its next position in said ditch,

at least a pair of spaced apart levelling hydraulic cylinders operatively secured to said first frame means at each side thereof adjacent the opposite ends thereof,

said cylinders having a ground engaging support means secured to the cylinder rods thereof whereby the extension of said rods will cause said ground engaging support means to engage the ground to permit said first frame means to be raised and lowered with respect to the ditch and be positioned at a predetermined grade,

said first frame means being laterally movable with respect to said levelling hydraulic cylinders,

an aligning hydraulic cylinder operatively connected to said first frame means and the levelling hydraulic cylinders at one end thereof adapted to laterally move said one end of said first frame means with respect to said levelling hydraulic cylinders,

and an aligning hydraulic cylinder operatively connected to said first frame means and the levelling hydraulic cylinders at the other end thereof adapted to laterally move said other end of said first frame means with respect to said levelling hydraulic cylinders.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said cutting means is comprised of a rotary cutting blade means rotatable about a horizontal axis and positioned adjacent one end of said second frame means, said cutting means having a hydraulic cylinder means operatively secured thereto adapted to vertically move said cutting means with respect to said second frame means.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein an arcuate backing plate is secured to said second frame means and is vertically movable with said cutting means and being positioned rearwardly thereof, said backing plate adapted to be longitudinally moved on said first frame means with said second frame means and to force debris from said trench.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein a conveyor means is mounted on said second frame means below said first frame means and extends transversely therefrom rearwardly of said cutting means to convey material from said cutting means from said trench.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said first frame means has a pair of vertically movable ground engaging wheels at opposite sides thereof which may be lowered with respect to said first frame means to move said first frame means to another location, said ground engaging wheels being vertically moved by a hydraulic cylinder means operatively secured thereto.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said second frame means has a hydraulically operated winch means secured thereto which is operatively connected to a cable means extending between the opposite ends of said first frame means, said winch being operable to cause said second frame means tobe longitudinally moved on said first frame means.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said first frame means includes a hollow laterally extending frame member at each of its opposite ends, a support slidably mounted in each of said frame members and having its opposite ends extending outwardly of said frame member, one of said aligning hydraulic cylinders being secured to and extending between one of said frame members and the support slidably mounted therein, the other of said aligning hy draulic cylinders being secured to and extending between the other frame member and the support slidably mounted therein, the operation of said aligning hydraulic cylinders causing said frame members, said first and said second frame means to be laterally moved in said ditch with respect to said levelling hydraulic cylinders.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein a levelling hydraulic cylinder is secured to each of the ends of said supports.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,669,039 2/ 1954 Bunnell 37-92 2,679,703 6/ 1954 Borel 37-92 2,782,534 2/1957 Wall 3785 2,872,200 2/1959 Kroll 2806 2,935,309 5/1960 McCarthy 299 X 3,015,175 1/1962 Smith 37-192 3,130,506 4/1964 Laster 3786 3,132,430 5/1964 Barras 3792 3,181,624 5/1965 Lindberg 17343 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner C. D. CROWDER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

